St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-11-26

Stlneu ncr. while the duli mOnOtOnOu
hum Of voices had such a Supplying
effect that before she had been seated
long her head dropped on her desk and
she fell asleep. She was wakened BY
something tickling her nose: putting
her hand up quickly great bouncing 2
butterfly fiattered through her fingers
and shot up into the air. Now. this
was a playmate Wild Becky never
could resist: without half realizing
where she was. she burst into 4 loud
laugh. and was making dive for it.
when. recollecting herself, she slid
down again into her seat, with the
painful consciousness that all eyes were
upon her. The pair that terrified her
most were those upon the platform-not
Miss Peters eyes. but those of another
teacher who had come into the room
during Bccky's nap.
Where did you come from?" asked
the woman. sharply. for she was indig-
nant at the interruption of her class.
biscuit City, MAN," was the
prompt reply.
"A land productive of biscuit, and
rude girls" returned the teacher. face
tlOusly, at which the other scholars,
particularly the older ones, laughed
most obligingly.
''Unless YOU can command yourself
you had better return there at once,
she continued.
Wild Becky did not need much urg-
ing on that score. As quickly rs pos.
sible she sprang from her seat. and,
vaulting through the open window,
swung herself down to the ground as
neatly as a boy could have done it,
for she was in great wrath. So of she
trotted. never looking behind her until
she brought up at the kitchen door.
Through the opening she could see heI
grandfather bending over the big brick
oven.
..Sakes alive! School amt out yet,
be it?'' he asked. lifting himself up to
get good view ofthe clock.
Becky flung herself down on the
stepsAand poured forth her injuries,
winding up with declaration of indie.
pendence.
.I'll never 90 again. never. You will
not ask it of me, will you, grandfa
ther?''
"Not if you're set agin' it." said the
old man. with sigh. - he passed into
the buttery and brought out heaping
dish of pancakes.
IL thought as how you'd come hom e
hungry, and so l male y lot of EN-"
Becky had a weakness for pancakes.
and was quite toucned with the atten-
ton. She moved = chair nearer them
and tried to eat, but somehow they
seemed to stick in her throat. The idea
that her grandfather was sorely disap-
pointed made them hard to swallow.
"What makes you care so much
about my being Lady," she said. at
length. laying down her knife and fork.
and looking fixedly at him.
The farmer wiped his glasses care
fully. :.
"p'r'aps it's cause your mother would
have liked il; she used to take to
'learnin' and to gentle ways. and grand
folks. nat rally as horses take to hay.
wanted you to be like her; but laws
me! faint in natur's you could be that
kind any more than hen could be
gosling. 1t don't matter"
"Yes it does, grandfather" and
Becky. jumping up. wound her arms
around his neck. and shed a tear OF
two on the back of his old waistcoat.
1T isn't that I'm SO against the
learning" she continued; Its the
folks can't stand"
"Wcll. some OF ems rather tryin','
answered the farmer. but there's one
powerful queer thing in human natur' !.
II you feel ag' in . man. do favor for
him. an your sure to like him better.
There's Squire Adams-I used to hate
him like fury; but since I've been in
the habit Of lending him my yoke oi
oxen. I've got the better on it.
..Well. grandpa, I'll 60 to school
Just one day longer to lend 'em to his
daughter. Such fixed up city girls
haven't the slightest idea of how ia
have a good time. Imight bring them
down here and show them how it is
done"
So, to the surprise of every body, the
following day Wild Becky appeared at
school. The scholars all laughed a
she came tearing in. and making .
queer little bob, which did duty as a
courtesy. begged to be forgiven for
yesterdays misdOings.
Perhaps Miss Peters knew by instinct
what penance this was to the child.
or it may b. that. in spite Of her prim
little way. she had real sympathy for
Becky. and disapproved of the often.
sive manner of her assistant. At all
events. the matter was lightly treated.
and the "wili girl was soon estab-
lished in her seat
At recess the girls paired off two by
two. but no one spoke to her.
..Dear, DEAR" thought the child;
nobody isn't nobody here unless they
are . couple, and amt"
When the afternoon session broke mp
that day q haycart. with two big work
horses, stood drawn up before the
fashionable establishment. The bottom
Of the cart was strewen thickly with
fragrant hay. while old Farmer Miller.
in his shirt-sleeves. held the reins.
CYNTHIA Adams was one Of the last to
leave the school-room. Who can de-
scribe her astonishment when. upon
gaining the yard. she bcheld Wild
Becky standing upon horse-block and
actually inviting those city girls to
..hitch on" Most of the scholars
looked as horrified - Cynthia expected
but Millie King and four or five other
iolly souls tumbled in for the fun OF It.
Farmer Miller shouted TO Miss Peter.
that he'd bring 'em home safe and
sound afore bedtime. and. cracking his
whip. they were soon rattling down
the hill. the girls getting such shake
up As they had never had before; but
they held on to the poles like monkeys
filling the way with their merry shout,
and laughter, and BY the time they hae
reached the long winding road through